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29 September 2013

MGR Costumes

Sri MGR Year 96, 29th September, Sunday

From black and white to colour movies MGR costumes had uniqueness. Even today his style is followed by most of MGR fans. The costumer for MGR is preferably M.G.Naidu. Highest number of costumes used by MGR is in Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban.

We will be continuing to upload the costumes used by MGR in various movies starting now with Sathya Movies Ithayakani.

Ithayakani was released on 22nd August 1975 all over South. The movie had superb performance, memorable songs and political dialogues enough for a massive hit.

 

MGR costumes from the movie Ithayakani

 

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The above images is from the first 40 minutes of the movie. Seven costumes so far.

 

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From the above images four dress changes in the duet song alone.

 

 

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These are costumes used for the first half of the movie.

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Both songs uploaded by Rajshri Tamil in youtube.

 

The post will continue.

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23 September 2013

Function For Epic Films III

Sri MGR Year 96, 23rd September, Monday

Continuation of Part II.

Emgeeyar Pictures 3 epic movies Nadodi Mannan, Adimai Penn and Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban anniversary was celebrated on 22.9.2013 in Chennai the function was carried out by Olikirathu Urimaikural MGR magazine with Aanaithulaga Makkal Thilagam MGR Pothunala Sangam.

 

Tea and snacks were provided to MGR Devotees and Fans after tea break, Olikirathu Urimaikural Publisher Thangavel presented the epic films video clippings.

 

Video Clippings

 

 

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After the video clippings, Olikirathu Urimaikural Editor B.S.Raju welcomed the gathering.

 

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Professor Selvakumar gave a small speech about our Makkal Thilagam and the Indian Cinema Centenary.

 

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MGR Devotee Rasappa Samy recited MGR movies title in Tamil alphabetical order.

 

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Bangalore Mohankumar giving a brief speech.

 

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Anapanadi Arumugam who is also the councilor, spoke about our Puratchi Thalaivar movies, his deeds and how he worked hard to name the Bus stop in MGR name with great applause from the gathering.

 

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Vote of Thanks given by MGR devotee Loganathan.

 

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Makkal Thilagathin Muperum Kaviyangal special edition was released by Mr.Govindaraj (MGR’s Bodyguard K.P.Ramakrishnan’s son)

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Followed by presenting shields to noted MGR devotees and Fans.

Function For Epic Films II

Sri MGR Year 96, 23rd September, Monday

Emgeeyar Pictures Three movies Nadodi Mannan, Adimai Penn and Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban (three epic films) anniversary was celebrated on 22.9.2013 in Chennai Press Club, Chennai. The function was arranged by Olikirathu Urimaikural MGR Magazine and Aanaithu Ulaga MGR Pothu Nala Sangam.

 

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Banner for the function.

 

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Some of the banners fixed by various MGR fans association.

 

The function started with the clippings from MGR movie songs. MGR fans from Bangalore, Chennai, Madurai, Thirunelveli etc. participated in the function.

 

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The stage and the audio visual.

 

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A part of MGR fans who attended the function.

 

Videos and images of this function will be uploaded soon.

20 September 2013

Re Release Dharmam Thalai Kaakum

Sri MGR Year 96, 20th September, Friday

Fifth movie of MGR Devar combo Dharmam Thalai Kakum is re-released this week in Mahalakshmi theater. MGR acts as a Doctor who is generous and serves the poor. The pair is Saroja Devi and villain is Asokan. MGR character name is Chandran.

Dharmam Thalai Kaakum movie has recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee.

 

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The movie has memorable songs, the most famous philosophical song Dharmam Thalai Kaakum and the duet song Thottu Vida Thottu Vida are embed below.

Uploaded by RVVMGR

 

Uploaded by Abdul Gafoor

Other images and videos will follow.

17 September 2013

100 Years

Sri MGR Year 96, 17th September, Tuesday

Indian Cinema Centenary Festival will be held in Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium, Chennai. The event will be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, on September 21, Saturday, 2013. President Of India, Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, will be Chief Guest of the valedictory function of 100 years of Indian Cinema, which is scheduled on 24th September.

The event will also be attended by Tamil Nadu Governor Rossaiha, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

As part of the celebration, movies of yesteryears will be released in selected theaters. Memorable movies of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada will be screened.

On 16th September, 2013, our Puratchi Thalaivar MGR movie Ayirathil Oruvan was shown to the public in Sathyam Cinemas.

 

nadodi-mannan   rickshawkaran

 

Today Emgeeyar Pictures Nadodi Mannan is screened in Abhirami complex, Swarna Sakthi Abhirami. Followed by Rickshawakaran on 18th September in Sathyam Cinemas, Adimai Penn on 19th September in Sathyam Cinemas and again Adimai Penn on 24th September in Abhirami complex.

 

As usually MGR movies are running in other theaters, in Chennai this week MGR movies week is celebrated in Padi Sivasakthi theater screening:

13.9.2013 – Oli Vilakku

14.9.2013 – Enga Veetu Pillai

15.9.2013 – Kudieruntha Kovil

16.9.2013 – Vivasayi

17.9.2013 – Netru Indru Naalai

18.9.2013 – Kalangarai Vilakkam

19.8.2013 – Vettaikaran

13 September 2013

Function For Epic Films

Sri MGR Year 96, 13th September, Friday

Emgeeyar Pictures three movies Nadodi Mannan (1958), Adimai Penn (1969) and Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban (1973) reached a milestone. Olikirathu Urimaikural MGR magazine and MGR fans association (Aanaithu Ulaga MGR Pothu Nala Sangam) had planned to celebrate the 55th year of Nadodi Mannan, 45th year of Adimai Penn and 40th year of Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban, in Chennai on 22nd September, 2013 near Chennai Press club.

 

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All are welcome. The function is from 4 pm onwards. A special edition book regarding the release and informations of Nadodi Mannan, Adimai Penn and Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban will be released. Along with the book release photo exhibition of these three epic movies and clipping will be shown.

09 September 2013

Photo Session

Sri MGR Year 96, 9th September, Monday

Most of MGR movies stills were clicked by R.N.Nagaraj Rao assisted by A.Sankar Rao. MGR affectionately said R.N.Nagaraj Rao’s as his brother. His relative A.Sankar Rao who is still alive and has written a book about MGR.

A.Sankar Rao has attended some of our functions and gave some insight into MGR’s photo sessions like how he likes to be pictured. In his book about our beloved Leader he has said that MGR never gives special photo session, instead he always asks him to take snaps during the shooting.

When I watched Padagotti the images given below to the left is from the movie and right is the still clicked by A.Nagaraj Rao during the shooting.

 

padagotti   padagotti1

The reaction given by Saroja Devi in the still clicked (right image) does not appear in the movie. And the dialog between MGR and Saroja Devi in this particular shot is very small, 28 seconds. MGR’s left hand never touches the rope in the movie as seen in the image still.

What I feel is that the dialog may be deleted considering the length of the movie or what we see in the film may be a retake.

05 September 2013

MGR

Sri MGR Year 96, 5th September, Thursday

An article from Times Of India.

A man in a saffron lungi, sitting cross-legged and singing old Tamil film songs might seem out of place at most temples. But, this is not your usual temple.

The deity here is matinee idol M G Ramachandran and the devotees are his ardent fans. Within two years, the MGR temple, with its sanctum sanctorum and a flagpole, has become popular for its religious rituals and tonsures. When L Kalaivanan built it for MGR in 2011, 26 years after the actor's death, all he desired was to build a memorial for his hero. Today, childless couples visit the temple hoping for a miracle.

Located in Nathamedu in Tiruvallur district, 40km from Chennai, the Arulmigu MGR Aalayam attracts devotees from various parts of the state. Every August 15, the temple celebrates its annual festival with a procession carrying MGR's idol through the streets. Huge cutouts and banners of the actor are displayed around the temple.

Though songs from his film blare out of loudspeakers around the temple, Kalaivanan is particular about the songs that are played - only devotional songs from MGR films, so that devotees get the basic idea about life.

The temple is open everyday from 9am to 6pm. During December, the month of MGR's death anniversary, a ritual similar to that practised at Sabarimala is performed here. At least 40 devotees observe a 41-day vritha (fast) after wearing beaded garlands and come to the temple on January 15. "This is similar to the ritual observed in Sabarimala. Devotees remove the garland only after praying to the MGR idol," says Shanthi, Kalaivanan's wife.

The temple has a small hall with a sanctum sanctorum that houses two idols of MGR. A cushioned chair that MGR used at his house in Ramavaram Gardens in Chennai is also enshrined. "I come here once a month. It's a great feeling to bow before MGR," says K Marimuthu, a devotee.

Surprisingly, politicians don't patronize the temple. Kalaivanan says this doesn't bother him. "I adored MGR for his films. They influenced me. MGR as a politician is not important to me," says the 60-year-old newspaper distributor, who wants to be known as an MGR devotee, not fan.

It was a dream that his wife Shanthi had that prompted him to build the temple. "In Shanthi's dream, MGR walked into our house, looking sad. So she took the initiative to build the temple," says Kalaivanan. He sold his property in Pudupet and purchased land for the temple. "Every MGR film that I watched was a lesson. It taught me simple philosophies. I don't bow before other gods today. MGR is my only god," he says.

 

Foot Note: In the Times of India website to this article many viewers mostly of North Indian and some South Indians had mentioned that MGR is issueless. For them we want to say that MGR had a son through his first wife, the child was still born. And two times his second wife was conceived and Doctors aborted (read MGR’s autobiography Naan Yen Piranthen) because she was suffering from tuberculosis and there was no medicine in those days. So people, hereafter do not make idiotic statement about our Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, when you do not know any basics about MGR.

04 September 2013

Reminiscences Of A Friend

Sri MGR Year 96, 4th September, Wednesday

Below is the article from the book Impact, MGR and Films, written by V.Gopalakrishnan, a veteran actor who had acted with out beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR in many movies. And he did some memorable roles some to mention are:

As a dearest friend in Naan Yen Piranthen and Kalangarai Vilakkam, evil Doctor in Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban as a foster father in Netru Indru Naalai, ruthless Police Officer in Pallandu Vazhga.

 

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I have the honour and pleasure of knowing Dr.Puratchi Thalaivar MGR for almost 30 years. It was 1957-58 when he was producing and directing his first venture Nadodi Mannan, when I met him. Let me start with an unforgettable incident. It was August 21, 1958, Mr.MGR, Mr.Tirupathi Swami (an actor in MGR troupe) and myself left Madras around 6.30 pm for a place called Chengam – a little beyond Thiruvannamalai.

It was raining Mr.MGR was kidding Thirupathi Swami about whether he was going to get paid for the play or not! If it rained hard the play was to have to be cancelled. We reached Chengam after visiting Mr.P.U.Shanmugam in Thiruvannamalai around 11 pm. It was still raining! There was a convention that tickets were to be sold only after Mr.MGR arrived.

Thousands of people were waiting to see Mr.MGR in the play Inbakkanavu. Mr.MGR addressed the gathering – He said because it was raining and the audience had to sit on the floor, could he come the next day and perform? The audience in one voice requested “Please go on with the play what is the guarantee that it won’t rain tomorrow? The now famous Ms.G.Shakunthala and Ms.Pusphalatha were in the play.

The play started to a packed house with me sitting on the 5th or 6th row, on the ground with the audience. By the time the fourth scene was over, I received a Turkish towel to put on my head, because it was still drizzling. Mr.MGR had seen me from the stage and had sent the towel. How thoughtful of him?

Now the rain increased in intensity. The orchestra had to be transferred to the stage and some lights went out of action because of the raindrops.

The play ended around 3 am. Then the audience wanted Mr.MGR to talk to them! He spoke to them for half an hour and we left! I would not have believed this incident if I had not been there!

On the way back to Madras, Mr.MGR grew ill. He said it might be because of the release of Nadodi Mannan that day. If it became a success he was a Mannan if not, a Nadodi. He had sunk his last shirt on this venture. He had such belief, such confidence in his maiden effort. Around 9.30 am we reached Madras and he requested me to go to the preview of Nadodi Mannan at 10.30 am at Vijaya Gardens as he was not feeling too well.

I saw the reaction of the Press and the Invitees. Even before the last few colour reels. I telephoned him saying the reaction was excellent and could he come and meet the press during lunch. That would make them feel happier. He arrived as the show ended and the Press was unanimous in its pride and the phenomenal success of the film is HISTORY.

Then he had his fracture and had to be in bed for six months. I used to visit him very often for, he needed company because he had to be in bed with a leg in plaster!

Dec 31, 1959, “Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali” was released. The first shot shows his fractured leg in good condition! This was the great late Anna’s story and the dialogues were by Mr.Rama Arangannal and I had a good role in film.

From this, I have been with him in several pictures upto Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga which had (Minister) Kalimuthu as the script writer. In fact the film function where Mr.MGR attended as Chief Minister was the 100th day of this picture at Woodlands hotel.

On Oct, 10, 1972 I was with him when he was thrown out of DMK party. We were shooting Netru Indru Naalai. It was around 10.30 am. He told me to be with him for the next two or three days. At nights he used to go about 30/40 KM outside Madras to meet people. They started flowing in thousand to Sathya Studios. He knew the people were with him and the idea of starting a party struck him. These three days he asked me to write to Indira Gandhi and send some telegrams too. If only I had joined the party then! One of those ifs that never be explained! The great man that he is, never asked me to join the party. Probably he thought I was unfit for politics.

After he became the Chief Minister I have met him several times – but it was getting more and more difficult. The officials would ask me who I was and why I wanted to see the Chief Minister. As I had no purpose and it was just a courtesy call, I used to return without seeing him. I told him this when I met him accidently at the Madras Airport in March 1983, when I was going to Sri Lanka.

Whether I see him or not, he is always dear to me. He is a person I respect and hold in high esteem. He has become a legend in his life time. The only example of an actor in the World becoming the Chief Minister of a State and remaining with the masses till date – You might say Reagan became the President of the United States. But Reagan was never a front rank actor. He was only in B grade movies like The Bad Men an MGM film and he quit film nearly 20 years before he was elected President.

There is something strange about MGR – unique. When he is down and out, he goes higher like when he had the fracture, when he was thrown out of DMK party when be became very ill recently.

The last time I met Mr.MGR and he talked to me was when the film industry gave a reception to Dr.Friedman who had treated our MGR in the States.

Like Shakespeare says: Our MGR has no equal – no second.